As the Philadelphia Phillies continue to look for ways to move on from players on their roster entering the 2026 season, there only seems to be one thing left to do.
Nick Castellanos is a nice veteran, but his inconsistency, attitude, and contract have put him on the trade block for a few months now. The Phillies have also said publicly they’re shopping the veteran outfielder, and most believe a change of scenery may benefit both sides.
ESPN’s Jesse Rogers recently floated a scenario in which the Phillies could move Castellanos to the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team looking to spend some more cash, according to reports.
“The Pirates still need hitting, right? And Castellanos still needs a new home. How about an in-state swap with the big-spending Phillies picking up most of the contract -- say $15 million of the $20 million owed to Castellanos in 2026. The Pirates don't even have to send anyone back in the deal. Just give them his money and watch Castellanos light up PNC Park, proving all the naysayers wrong,” Rogers wrote.
For Pittsburgh, the idea would be to add a proven bat while also spending some more money. The Pirates need right-handed power and a veteran bat, and Castellanos would fit that. If Philadelphia were to cover most of the money, there wouldn’t be a reason not to try it.
From the Phillies’ perspective, the move would be centered around getting rid of a player who is causing more issues than he should be.
Castellanos’ time in Philadelphia has been weird, as there have been stretches where he’s looked like a great player, and other moments where he’s just tough to watch.
The one issue for the Phillies is that no team seems to want him. They likely knew, when entering the offseason, that no one would want him, but it’s a bit surprising not to see one team just give up a random prospect to land him.
Whether the Phillies would actually want something in return remains uncertain, but most have made it seem like that won’t be the case. I can’t see him being happy in Pittsburgh, but Philadelphia doesn’t have to worry about that.